Galway boxer John Cooney remains “very critical” after Belfast bout

"There is only one John Cooney."

The 28-year-old was taken to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital following his loss to Welshman Nathan Howells at the Ulster Hall, and underwent surgery for a brain injury and was placed in intensive care.

His mother Tina wrote a poignant message for her son on social media:

"Son, as a mum to you, I will never give up hope and the saying we have: ‘There is only one John Cooney.’

"I love you unconditionally, but right now you are breaking my heart in a million pieces.

"But you are not ready to leave this world yet and you are now battling the hardest fight.

"But you can do this, John Cooney. Dad and I and your two brothers are just a broken family without you."

Speaking on Radio Ulster, Belfast fighter and former world champion, Carl Frampton, said:

“It is horrible My heart goes out to John and his family and anyone else involved in boxing who has ever suffered like John has,” the Tigers Bay man said.

"It is obviously one of the downsides to our sport – a sport that can be very brutal at times and it is just not nice. It is extremely sad.

“I can't comment on the fight because I didn't see it.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up for Mr. Cooney and has raised over £17,000 so far.